Liquid dispensing device



y M. c. SCHWAB LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23 1958 May 11, 1943. M. c. SCHWAB' LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1938 My 11, 1943. M. c. scHwAB LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1958' Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE 2,318,637 LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Martin Ci Schwab, Chicago, Ill. Application August 23, 1938, Serial No. 226,269

10 Claims. (01.128-214) This invention relates to liquid dispensing devices and more particularly to devices for dispensing sterile liquids for subcutaneous or intravenous injections. In withdrawing liquids from containers generally, it is necessary that air be permitted to enter the container to-replace the liquid withdrawn, and in devices to be employed for the purposes specifically herein pointed out, it is particularly important that the air entering the container upon withdrawal of the liquid be filtered in order to prevent contaminaon May 2, 1938, and Serial No. 69,323, filed March v 17, 1936, issued to Patent No. 2,156,314 on May 2, 1939, and is directed to certain improvements thereover.

In dispensing devices of this general type known tainer; The invention contemplates the use of a portion of the liquid to be dispensed as the media for washing incoming air, both in the pri- -mary and secondary air washing chambers.

v tube.

The assembly of my present device is readily sterilized and is capable of portable use aswell as being sold as a part of the liquid container.

Further objects are to provide a constructionof a maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description in conjunction with the -;.accompanying drawings wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated, "in

. which:

Fig. 1 is a broken vertical sectional view of one 7 embodiment of my invention, showing the imto the art, it is customary to provide an air washing chamber in a cap removably mounted upon the top of the bottle. An object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the construction ofthe cap, which is preferably of such construction that it may be frictionally' seated in a stopper in the neck of the liquid contalner. A feature of the present invention is that the device requires considerably less sterilization than similar'devices known .to the art and may be readily assembledfor instant use by unskilled persons. My improved dispensing device may be delivered in a sealed package to hos pitals or other users. and the device rendered ready for use by removing the seal, sterilizing the dispensing tube and air washing cap and inserting the cap and the dispensing tube in thestopper.

In certain of the liquid dispensing devices known to the art it has been found, particularly where considerable quantities of liquid are to be tached to aliquid container; I

Fig. 2, a broken vertical sectional view of a slight modification, showing the container sealed in condition for delivery and without washing and dispensing assembly;

' Fig. 3, a cutaway vertical sectional view of another embodiment without the air washing and dispensing assembly attached;

Fig. 4,.a cutaway vertical sectional view of another modification of the invention somewhat similar to that of Fig. 3 and with the air washing and dispensing members attached to the container;

. proved air washing and dispensing assembly ata r Fig. 5, a cutaway vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention somewhat similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a broken vertical sectional'view of a furthermodification of the invention; Fig. .7, a vertical sectional'view of another embodiment of the invention.-

dispensed, that an insufilcient washing of the incoming air is obtained. "Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to provide a device in which a more thorough cleansing of the incoming air is obtained than in any of the devices known to the art. In certain embodiments ofthe invention this highly des rable objective is obtained by providing a plurality of air wa sh.

ing chambers. For example, the incoming air may be washed in a chamber depending from a stopper in the neck of thel ouid container and also in a secondary air washing'chamber forming a part of the air inlet tube within the con- Referring generally to the drawings, it will be seen that in allof the views the improved container and dispensing'device are shown in the.

inverted position, and it is in this inverted position that all of the various embodiments illustrated operate. 4

Referring'to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherein quite similar embodiments of the invention are shown, th reference character E indicates'a container provided with a conventional body portion l2, and a neck 13, which may be provided with external screw threads Ila adapted to removably retain a screw cap. As shown the air in Fig. 2, wherein the container is shown in its delivered condition, a seal is preferably interposed at the top of the cap to prevent leakage of the liquid. When the container is to be particularly used for dispensing fluids used in intravenous or subcutaneous injections, such as blood for transfusion purposes, physiological salt solutions; glucose solutions and other fluids in the field of medicine, the container may be employed as a package for these fluids which are retained in sterile condition and ready for use.

The neck of the container is provided with a stopper l6 preferably formed of rubber and serving as a support for the air washing member. The inner surface of the stopper I6 is provided with an upstanding boss H. A bore i8 extends vertically through the stopper and through the boss member l1. The outer surface of the stopper is preferably equipped with a depending annular flange |9 forming the end of a cylindrical bore 29 extending vertically through the stopper. As

shown in Fig. 2, the container is preferably packaged with an air inlet tube 2| mounted in the bore 2!! of the stopper and extending to substantially the bottom of the container. The annular flange l9 extends to the.gasket l and forms a seal therewith, preventing overflow of the liquid when the cap ll is removed.

After the cap l4v and seal l6 have been removed, it will be seen that a liquid dispensing tube .22 may be readily inserted in the bore l8 of the stopper. The tubes 2| and 22 are preferably formed of glass, and a frictional engagement between the rubber stopper andthe glass tubes will suflice to retain them in the proper position. It will be understood, however, that the tubes may be of metal, plastics, such as transparent resinous materials, hard rubber or glass, as may be deemed expedient- The liquid duct 22 is preferably provided with a beaded end 23 extending slightlybelow the bottom of the stopper l6, upon which a tube 25 provided with pinch means (not shown) to prevent premature flow of the liquid, is secured. As shown in Fig. 1, the inner end of the liquid duct 22 preferably extends somewhat above the top of the stopper, but in the event the duct is not properly inserted in the stopper, 'boss l1 forms a sedimentation zone below its upper level, preventing the drawoil! of liquid within this zone which may possibly contain minute particles of foreign matter.

The improved cap 90, adapted to be removably secured to the stopper l6 after the closure I4 is removed as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a cylindrical body portion 26 forming an air washing chamber 21 and a wing portion 29 in which is mosphere at its top. The cap 30 may be formed of glass, metal or a synthetic resin, and is preferably transparent. The air washing chamber 21 has a depending well portion 3|, and a duct 22 of constricted diameter extends downwardly from the bottom of the overflow chamber 29 into the well 3|, connecting the overflow chamber 29 and the air washing chamber 21. The cylindrical walls 26 of the air washing chamber 21 are extended above the. overflow chamber 29, and the inner diameter of the walls 26' is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the walls forming the annular depending flange l9. It will thus be seen that the cap 30 is frictionally secured'to therubber annular flange l9, and that an uninterrupted passage for incoming air is formed by means of the overflow chamber 29,

, duct 32, the air washing chamber 21 and the air.

ii of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is provided with an enlarged portion 33, which may be ovaloid, as shown, or may be substantially spherical, and is adapted to serve as a secondary air washing formed an overflow chamber 29 open to the atchamber.

containing sterile liquid to be dispensed. The closure l4 and the sealing member l5 are removed while the container is in an upright position, and

the presterilized liquid dispensing tube 22 and the cap 99 are attached in the manner described.

In the upright position of the container, it will be apparent that the liquid to be dispensed will enter the tube 2| through its open end 94 and will approximately seek its level in the tube 2|, which will be at a surface slightly below the neck of the bottle.

Upon inversion of the container E, the container is placed in a suitable holder (not shown) and it will be apparent that some of the liquid will drip or flow from the tube 2| into the air washing chamber 21, through the port 32 and partially enter the overflow chamber 29 until the atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the overflow chamber 29 equalizes the pressure of the liquid head in the chamber 21.

The overflow chamber 29 is preferably designed to hold less liquid than the washing chamber 21,

since in operation all of the liquid in the chamber 29 will be returned to-the washing chamber.

Upon releasing the flow control means (not shown) on the tube-25, the liquid within the container flows by gravity downwardly through the dispensing tube 22 and the conveyor tube 25 to an injection needle or to any other place of its employment which may be surgical, industrial or otherwise. When the level of the liquid in the container E reaches the upper end of the dispensing tube 22, the flow ceases and in case the dispensing tube does not extend above the boss l1, the boss serves to form a sedimentation zone below its upper level from which liquid cannot be -32 into the air washing chamber 21-. The incoming air through the chamber 29 and port 92 bubbles up through the wash liquid in the chamber 21 with considerable ebullition and receives a thorough washing and cleansing before passing upwardly through the tube 2| to the top of the container. Thus, when the air escapes into the container proper, it is free from dust, lint or other foreign material which may be entrained in the air and which are retained in the wash liquid. The overflow chamber 29 serves to collect the liquid and prevents it from spurting out into the open.

In employing the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that a portion of the liquid to be dispensed will be retainedin the chamber 39, due

to the rather constricted diameter of the air inreceives a preliminary wash in the chamber 21 of the cap 30. -During the dispensing operation the liquid in the chamber 33 tends to gradually gravitate into the lower chamber 21, due to the -pumping action of the incoming air, and the chamber 21 is of suflicient volume to contain all of the wash liquid.

The embodiments of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are quite similar in construction to Figs. 1 and 2, in that they employ similar air inlet tubes 2|, similar caps 30 depending from a stopper in the container'and liquid dispensing 'tubes 22 also secured to the stopper. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is shown in the packaged form with the gasket l5 and closhown in Fig. 4, the upper extended cylindrical walls 25 of the cap are adapted to be frictionally seated within the annular slot 5|. A small annular depending flange 42 surrounds the lower portion of the bore 31 and forms a liquid-tight seal with the disc l5. The upper end of the stopper 35 is provided with a boss 43 surrounding the bore 31 and forming a sedimentation zone within the container E below the upper level of the boss.

The embodiments of my improved liquid dispensing device shown in Figs. 6 and '7 are somewhat similar to the embodiment of Fig. 1, in I that the containersare equipped with stoppers 86 having a plurality of vertical bores, adapted tosupport a liquid dispensing tube 22 and air inlet tubes 55 and 55, respectively, and a depending annular flange l9 adapted to removably support a cap 35 having a washing chamber 21 and overflow chamber 29. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the open ended air inlet tube 55 extending substantially to the bottom of the chamber is provided with a plurality of enlarged portions 5i and 58. As shown; the enlarged portions 51 and 58 are substantially spherical, but it is to be understood that they may be ovaloid in shape. The enlarged chamber 51 is disposed adjacent the stopper l6, while the chamber 58 is adjacent the bottom of the container. It will thus be seen that in the upright position of the container the air inlet tube will house a greater volume of the liquid to be dispensed than will the air inlet tube 2| of Fig. 1. Accordingly, the air washing cham- The stopper'of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4

is similar to that of Fig. 3 but is of shortened height and, accordingly, does not extend to the top of the neck of the container E; in its upright position.

In operation, the constructions of Figs. 3 and 4 dispense liquid contained therein and wash the incoming air in the same manner as previously described in connection with the'embodiment of- Fig. l.

The stopper 45, preferably formed of rubber, employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, difiers in certain details from the stoppers employed in the embodiments of my improved liquid dispensing device previously described. In

common with the stoppers previously described,

a bore 46 extends vertically through the stopper,

is adapted to retain a liquid dispensing tube 22 and is provided with an enlarged boss 41 at its upper end. A second bore 48, spaced apart from the first mentioned bore, likewise extends vertically through thestopper and is provided at an intermediate. point with a groove adapted to retain and form a seat for the beaded end 45 of the air inlet tube 2|. The lower portion 50 of the bore 48 is of increased diameter, and of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the upper portion of the cap 30, and, as shown tions in the manner previously described in corn, nection with the pperatiem of-the embodiment of Fig. 1.

ber 21 and the overflow chamber may be made a little larger than the corresponding chambers in Fig. 1, and it will be seen that, upon inversion of the container, a portion of the liquid to be dispensed will be retained in the chamber 5? and.

will serve to provide a secondary wash liquid for the incoming air, which receives a preliminary wash in the chamber 21, in the manner previous: ly described in connection with the operation of the embodiment of Fig. 1, the operation of this embodiment being similar to that of Fig. 1. The expansion chamber 58 serves to prevent the possibility of any of the wash liquid being forced from the" air inlet tube back intothecontainer by a sudden unexpected upsurge of air .within the tube 55.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7 the air inlet duct 56 extends substantially the length of the container and comprises, in its inverted position, a

lower portion 59 and an upper portion 55 of greater diameter than the lower portion 59. The

enlarged air inlet tube 50 serves to provide an increased volume of washing liquid above that provided in the embodiment of Fig. 1, and the enlarged portion 60 of the tube provides an elongated expansion chamber adapted to prevent overflow of the wash liquid into the container upon resurging of'the air, causing violent ebullition of the washing liquid within the lower portion 59 of the dispensing tube. in operation, the dispensing devices of Figs. 6 and '7 function in the manner described in detail in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1.

While the novelty of the construction has been emphasized in the field of medicine in the dispensing of parenteral and other fluids andrsolutions, it will be understood that my improved device is' not limited to such use but that the. dispensing device has a wiil be readily apparent to those skilled in the ar While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be undertion as broadly stood that it is capable of many.modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope. of the invention, as disclosed in the appended claims in which it ismy intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invenaspermissible, in view of-the prior art. a

Having thus described my invention and illuswide field of utility, which trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and operable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the rieck of said container, a plurality of bores extending vertically through said stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an air inlet tube removably inserted in an otherof said bores and extending farther into said container than said liquid dispensing tube, and an air washing assembly removably secured to and depending from said stqpper outside of said container and communicating with said air inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber-open to the atmosphere and connected to said air washing chamber, said air washing chamber being adapted to receive and retain a portion of the liquid to be dispensed upon inversion of the container, said liquid portion serving as a washing medium for the incoming air.

2; Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a I container housing liquid to be dispensed and operable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the neck of said container, a liquid dispensing tube removably mounted within said stopper, an air inlet tube within said container and removably vertically through said stopper, one of said bores being provided withan annular groove at an intermediate point therein, a liquid dispensing tube having a beaded end removably carried in said bore, the beaded end of said tube engaging said groove, an air inlet tube removably disposed in the second of said bores, an annular slot extending upwardly from the lower surface of said stopper and concentric with said air inlet tube, and an air washing assembly depending from said stopper and communicating with said air inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber connected to said air washing chamber, the walls of said air washing chamber being elongated and adapted to be frictionally retained in said annular slot.

4. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and operable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the neck of said chamber, a pair of bores extending vertically through said stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably mounted in one of tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber connected to said air washing chamber, the walls of said air washing chamber being of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the lower portion of said second mentioned bore and adapted to be frictionallyretained therein.

5. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and operable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the neck of said container, a liquid dispensing tube removably carried in said stopper, an air inlettube within said container and removably seated in said stopper, said air inlet tube being provided with a plurality of spaced apart chambers, the lower of said chambers, in the inverted position of said container, being adapted to serve as a supplemental air washing chamber and the upper of said chambers serving as an expansion chamber, and an air washing assembly removably secured to and depending from said stopper and communicating with said air-inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber connected to said air wash ing chamber.

6. Liquid dispensing apparatus operable upon inversion, comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed, a stopper in the neck of said container, a plurality of bores extending vertically through said stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an air inlet tube removably inserted in the'othei' of said bores and extending farther into said .container' than said liquid dispensing tube, a plurality of expanded portions spaced from each other in said air inlet tube withins'aid container forming chambers adapted to retain a portion of the liquid to be dispensed upon inversion of said container and to wash said incoming air, and an air was'hing assembly removably secured to and dependirigjrom said stopper and communicatingwith said air inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber connected to said air washing chamber.

7. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and operable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the neck of said container, a plurality of bores extending vertically through sald'stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an air inlet tube removably inserted in another of said bores and extending farther into said container than said liquid dispensing tube, and an air washing assembly removably secured to and depending from said stopper outside of said container and communicating with said air inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber open to the atmosphereand connected to said air washing chamber, said air washing chamber being adapted to receive and retain a portion of theliquid to be dispensed upon inversion of the container, said liquid portion serving as a washing medium for the incoming air, the outer surface of said stopper being provided with an annular flange adapted to frietionally retain said air washing assembly.

8. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and operably upon'inversion,,a stopper disposed in the neck of said container, a plurality of bores ex- 1 tending verticallyrthrough said stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an air inlet tube removably' inserted in another of said bores andextending farther into said container than said liquid dispensing tube, and an air washing assembly removablysecured to and depending from said stopper outside of said container and communicating with said air amass? inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber and an overflow chamber open to the atmosphere and connected to said air washing chamber, said air washing chamber being' adapted to receive and retain a portion of the liquid to be dispensed upon inversion of the container, said liquid portion serving as a washing medium for the incoming air, said air washing, chamber being provided with elongated walls adapted to be frictionally secured to said stopper.

9. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a container housing liquid to be dispensed and pdispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an'air inlet tube removably inserted in ani other of said' boresand extending farther into erable upon inversion, a stopper disposed in the neck ofsaid container, a,plurality of bores extending vertically through said stopper, a liquid dispensing tube removably inserted in one of said bores, an air inlet tube removably inserted in 'another oi said bores and extending farther into said container than said liquid dispensing tube,

' said air inlet tube being provided with an ex-4 panded portion within said container forming a chamber adapted to retain a portion of the liquid to be dispensed upon-inversion of said container for washing said incoming air. and an air washing assembly removably secured to and depend ing from said stopper outside of said container and communicating with said air inlet tube, said assembly comprising an air washing chamber'and an overflow chamber open to the atmosphere and connected to said air washing chamber, saidair washing chamber being adapted "to receive and said container than said li'quid dispensing tube,

said air inlet tube extending substantially the length of said container, the upper portion-of said tube, in the inverted position of said container, being oi greater diameter than the lower portion of said tube within said container, am an air washing assembly removably secured to and depending from said stopper outside of said container and communicating with said air inlet tube, saidassembly comprising an air washing chamber and an' overflow chamber open-to the atmosphere and connected to said \air washing chamber, said air washing chamber being adapted to receive and retain a portion of the liquid to be dispensed upon inversion of the'container said liquid portion serving as a washing medium for the incoming air.

- I MARTIN c. scnwan, 

